Convention Etiquette: Discussion and Advice on Do's and Don'ts

[MamaDuck]

Yup, and then you get the flip side of fans who have seen the actors more times than God and rub it into the newbies....

I have met plenty of them, lots o' times, but my grammy said I was born without a sense of 'people' awe, I tend to see most of them as just folks that I need to protect, and help out. There are a few who I have become friends with, but for the most part they are just great people I work with.
Jason is a tad different, I met his mom and promised if I was there, to take care of him, and He is only two years older then my eldest daughter.

I still swear if I ever met Tommy Lee Jones I would turn into a drooling fangirl, but my family staunchly denies Im capable of true fannish behavior.

[qksilver99]

Yup, and then you get the flip side of fans who have seen the actors more times than God and rub it into the newbies....

oh yes, I'm a personal friend of Amanda and Teryl and we went swimming in Rick's swimming pool the last time I was in Vancouver, type person. I usually laugh at them, or count how many times they mention AMANDA in a sentence.

I was just complaining because the person was harumphing, "Why do you rate so and so knowing your name, and -*i*- don't?"

[BrownEyes]

she actually did that for a COUPLE questions. Least this year she texted it, last year she wrote it on paper, and Mike/Chris Judge thought she was a possible serial killer because of her penmanship.

I thought it was just so rude to say "I don't watch Atlantis" and then to have two people immediately afterwards say "I don't watch it either!"

Rude, rude, rude. Wouldn't have been so rude if they had said, "I don't watch atlantis but I've seen you in [name of show]"

Helena

At least the other people managed to ask halfway decent questions, though I agree that it was rude for them to mention that they didn't watch the show either. But I thought Jason handled it well with his funny little "I'm sorry Michael Shanks isn't here today, ok? It's not my fault!!" rant. It was hilarious.

[qksilver99]

At least the other people managed to ask halfway decent questions, though I agree that it was rude for them to mention that they didn't watch the show either. But I thought Jason handled it well with his funny little "I'm sorry Michael Shanks isn't here today, ok? It's not my fault!!" rant. It was hilarious.

Yes, that was an absolute scream.

[prion]

oh yes, I'm a personal friend of Amanda and Teryl and we went swimming in Rick's swimming pool the last time I was in Vancouver, type person. I usually laugh at them, or count how many times they mention AMANDA in a sentence.

I was just complaining because the person was harumphing, "Why do you rate so and so knowing your name, and -*i*- don't?"

I went to a con once and some fans who had seen Michael Shanks at a play were going on (and on and on and on) about it and "Mikey" and like he was their best pal buddy and if anybody asked a question, they just sorta raised their nose at you. Tha'ts what I meant

I did do minder stuff for an actor once many many years ago. I just got to know him (as an actor/casual acquaintance not visit his house stuff). Being a minder gives you an actor's eye view of fandom which can be totally different. I ran across some fans who just gave me the evil eye because the actor greeted me when I got to the con.

But, how is Rick's pool?

[qksilver99]

But, how is Rick's pool?

Sel said it was nice and deep and she got to play "JAWS" in it.

[Chelle]

oh yes, I'm a personal friend of Amanda and Teryl and we went swimming in Rick's swimming pool the last time I was in Vancouver, type person. I usually laugh at them, or count how many times they mention AMANDA in a sentence.

GACK! That is probably my least favorite behavior at a con - Those with the "I'm holier than thou" attitude. We're all there for the same reason, no one attendee is any more special than the next, and GET OVER YOURSELF. People who throw down the guest's names as if they really know them, act like they're some star themselves, and they'e only speaking to you because you just happen to be the only person in the room that's within earshot.... And you should be absolutely entralled by anything they say.

Hey, I'm just a fan. I've totally come to terms with that. I'm not there to try and become any of the guests' bestest friend ever, I'm not going to chase them all over because I feel I have the right to, just because they're staying in the same hotel as me. *sigh* A few years ago, I attended an art show that was hosted by a rather handsome male celebrity, and I was lucky enough to get a "Hello, thanks for being here!," a handshake and a pic with said person. Unbeknownst to me, one of the people in my group made a series of "walk-bys," during which she not only deposited a couple of love letters, she also left her personal info & address, PLUS her hotel room key and directions on how to get there.

My opinion on the whole thing? Just go to have fun. Period. Because that's what it's all about.

[qksilver99]

Hey, I'm just a fan.

There is NO JUST A FAN! You are a fan. I'm a fan.

I've totally come to terms with that. I'm not there to try and become any of the guests' bestest friend ever, I'm not going to chase them all over because I feel I have the right to, just because they're staying in the same hotel as me. *sigh* A few years ago, I attended an art show that was hosted by a rather handsome male celebrity, and I was lucky enough to get a "Hello, thanks for being here!," a handshake and a pic with said person. Unbeknownst to me, one of the people in my group made a series of "walk-bys," during which she not only deposited a couple of love letters, she also left her personal info & address, PLUS her hotel room key and directions on how to get there.

well that certainly tops my story of how someone invited the actors to a group dinner.

My opinion on the whole thing? Just go to have fun. Period. Because that's what it's all about.

Yes. Absolutely. Once or twice, I've gone some place for the actors (I'll admit to a 3 hr drive for the first East Coast Con Peter Jurasik did ), but mainly it's about your friends. Actors can be nice, they can be evil, they can be funny or they can be absolutely polluted, but really, the friends you have at the con make or break it.

Helena

[Blue007]

At least the other people managed to ask halfway decent questions, though I agree that it was rude for them to mention that they didn't watch the show either. But I thought Jason handled it well with his funny little "I'm sorry Michael Shanks isn't here today, ok? It's not my fault!!" rant. It was hilarious.

Ok, I'll raise my hand and ask the stupid question! If you don't watch Atlantis and the actor on stage is not a fav of yours...hum...why would you be there, and why on earth would you ask a question anyway??...or as Frankie on NS would say "Did you have a big bowl of crazy this morning?"



With that...let me add a big THANK YOU to everyone who shares their pics and stories with those of us who are unable to attend. You are all appreciated deeply and I thank you so much for sharing your moments and pics. For us to see and share with others who love to know the news and see the pictures! You folks are cool!!

[Emeraldcity]

I love reading this thread...... convention etiquette seems to be lost on some new people or even some of the old die hards. My personal favorites are the people who do come back year after year (good on them) but expect the cast member to remember them..... they have built in their minds that they are "friends" with that actor for one reason or another. Maybe they all partied together once, or had a meal....... but that doesn't mean they are friends.

I always "remind" these people, if you don't talk regularly on the phone, exchange birthday and other holiday greetings or gifts with each other and are not included in the actors holiday plans with family and friends.........you are not friends.......you are acquainted...... and even that is a narrow margin as you are acquainted by association.....a convention association......

[qksilver99]

I love reading this thread...... convention etiquette seems to be lost on some new people or even some of the old die hards. My personal favorites are the people who do come back year after year (good on them) but expect the cast member to remember them..... they have built in their minds that they are "friends" with that actor for one reason or another. Maybe they all partied together once, or had a meal....... but that doesn't mean they are friends. I always "remind" these people, if you don't talk regularly on the phone, exchange birthday and other holiday greetings or gifts with each other and are not included in the actors holiday plans with family and friends.........you are not friends.......you are acquainted...... and even that is a narrow margin as you are acquainted by association.....a convention association......

I always warn people that if the actors remember you from con to con, you've probably done something suitably traumatic and/or dramatic for them to remember you.

[MamaDuck]

We had a poor girl from Austrailia at the Creation Trek con this past weekend, the rather stout man on her left, had abandoned all personal hygiene. Poor baby, she ended up putting vanilla oil on her collar and sticking her nose in it so she could sit there.
I personally heard a man say "Im just gonna wear this shirt all weekend" this is *shudders* not a grand idea! Makes me want to hand out hygienic convention samplers kits...yuckers

[Arctic Goddess]

I always warn people that if the actors remember you from con to con, you've probably done something suitably traumatic and/or dramatic for them to remember you.

Oh...you mean locking them in the elevator with me, wasn't a good idea? (J/K)

Yeah, there are people who are naturally poor at social skills and don't know any better, and then there are those who just don't care. I work with people with disabilities every day. Some of them are even my co-workers (okay, kidding again). So I try to err on the side that these people just don't know any better. If they are being rude, sometimes a tacktful taking aside and talking to them works wonders. Or asking someone the caliber of Mama Duck to do it. Tammy is the sweetest lady on the planet. But I'd never want her mad at me. She can be really intimidating. Tammy, you are awesome. LOL

[MamaDuck]

Or asking someone the caliber of Mama Duck to do it. Tammy is the sweetest lady on the planet. But I'd never want her mad at me. She can be really intimidating. Tammy, you are awesome. LOL

I always say when asked if I would use physical force to defend/protect the talent/staff/and my team... "Please dont make me"
I like smiling and joking with everyone while doing my job, and am told Im very entertaining to watch, just as a matter of courtesy, know that the Security, volunteers and Talent Wranglers (escorts) are doing their job. Ususally when you see talent and escort they are on the way to a scheduled event, and on a tight time restraint

[Emeraldcity]

We had a poor girl from Austrailia at the Creation Trek con this past weekend, the rather stout man on her left, had abandoned all personal hygiene. Poor baby, she ended up putting vanilla oil on her collar and sticking her nose in it so she could sit there.
I personally heard a man say "Im just gonna wear this shirt all weekend" this is *shudders* not a grand idea! Makes me want to hand out hygienic convention samplers kits...yuckers

At DragonCon three years ago, as we walked into the Hall of Fame to set up, volunteers were handing flyers out at the door. One of my actors grabbed one and kept walking. While we were sitting there signing autographs, I found the flyer and read:

Please be considerate of others. Please bath daily, brush your teeth, use deoderant and change your clothes!!

I about died laughing!! I have kept that in our merchandise case and on occasion have put it up on the table..... LOL LOL LOL LOL It is really sad when adults can't remember some basic hygiene.